Poultry-feeding device



M. ueqm. Poumn mama DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-Z81 I922.

mammal 001b, 1922 Patented Uct. W, 19

i MILTON IIIGGE'IT, OFSEYMOUR, IOWA.

noutrnvsnnrmrne. nnvron.

Application filed away as, 1922. serial No. 539,905.

" the like in assembling.

A further object is to providea feeding device of this class comprising a trough, a hopper, and perforated platesfor keeping the poultry from getting into the trough,

all of which parts can be shipped knocked by the operator; and

down and without danger ofbrealting and can be readily, quickly and easily assembled further object is to provide a device of this kind inwhich the hopper may be readily, quickly and easily adjustedvertically in re lation to the trough and adapted to automatically feed different kinds of material in proper quantities into the trough.

fly invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the ob ects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows an isometrical view of the complete feeding device assembled ready for use.

Figure 2 shows a central transverse sectional View of the same.

- Figure 3 shows an enlarged detail view illustrating one of the tongue and slot de vices for adjustably securing the hopper in position, and

Figure 4 shows a transverse sectional View of the feeding device in knocked down position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings 1 have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate a trough portion. This is preferably made complete of a single piece of sheet metal and is provided at its ends near its center with two slots 11.

The hopper is indicated generally by the numeral 12 and is open at its top and bottom and is tapered so that its lower end is wider than its upper end, thus preventing poultry feed from becoming wedgedwtherein and 'providingfor a constant discharge of the as it is removed from the trough.

feed as fast At the top edge the sides arefinclined outwardly, at 13 anda cover member 14 is provided, made of sheet metal, its side edges are curved downwardly and inwardly to pass around the edges 13 and-providea sliding, detachable coverwhich willbe firmly and securely held in position and be rain' tight and at the same time be readily and easily removed for filling. I

In the sides of'the hopper 12 near each end are two lugs 14; and 15 formed by male ing substantially U shaped cuts in the metal and bending the lower ends thereof slightly. outward, the lugs 1 1 being in a lower plane than the lugs 15. At each end of the hopper are two sheet metal tongues 16 forinedof the same material. of which the hopper is made and designed to protect outwardly and upwardlythrough the slots 11. Thi-(a are two sets of these tongues. 1 6,one above the other, as shown in Figure 2.

For the purpose of supporting in position and also providing guards to prevent poultry from getting their feet in the trough ll provide two curved sheet metal plates one for each side, indicated by the numeral 17. These plates are provided with openings 18 through which poultry may have access to the feed in the trough. The lower edge of the plate is inclined straight downwardly at 19 and is designed to rest against the inner surface of the side of the the hopper trough, and the top edge at 20 is inclined r upwardly and is designed to rest against the adjacent side of the hopper. and to engage one of the sets of lugs 14? and 15, and when in position these plates 17 serve to firmly'brace and support the hopper against downward or lateral movement and the tongues 16 brace the hopper against upward movement so that when assembled all ofthe parts are firmly and securely held together. hen usin the hopper for kinds of food that flow readily the hopper is placed in its lowermost position and when using food that does not flow readily the hopper is placed in its elevated position.

In Figure 4 I have their knock down condition and arranged for convenient shipping and handling Where they occupy a minimum of space. When it is desired to assemble the feeding device, the operator first places the hopper in position shown the parts in l in the trough and causes either the upper or lower set of tongues 16 to pass through the slots 11. This can be readily and easily done because the sides of the trough 10 can spring outwardly to a slight extent; When the hopper has thus been placed in position at the proper elevation then the plates 17 are inserted in the position shown in Figure '2, and these plates, being made of sheet metal can be sprung sufliciently to permit the upper edges thereof to enter beneath the lugs 14 or 15, and then they will spring upwardly to form a locked connection with said lugs. In this way all of the parts are firmly and securely held together without bolts or other similar fastening means.

' I claim as my invention:

1. Apoultry feeding device comprising in combination a trough portion, a hopper portion, the latter being formedwith lugs at its sides, and two plates made of sheet metal, and each shaped to enter the trough portion and engage the inner side thereof,

and also to extend inwardly and upwardly with its upper edge engaging the side of the hopper portion, and also engaging the lugs thereof, to thereby firmly and securely hold the hopper and platesfin position,

2. poultry feeding device comprising in combination a trough portion, hopper portion, the latter being formed with lugs at its sides, and two plates made of sheet metal and each shaped to enter the trough portion and engage the inner side thereof, and also to extend inwardly and upwardly with its upper edge ei'igaging the side of the hopper portion, and also engaging the lu s thereof to thereby firmly and securely hold the hopper and plates in position, and means for detachably connecting the ends of the hopper with the ends of the trough to prevent upward movement of the hopper.

3. A poultry feeding device comprising a sheet metal trough having slots at its ends, a hopper portion formed of sheet ll'lOtlll tapered widest at its bottom, said hopper being provided at its ends with two sets of tongues, extending u nvardly and outwardly to enter said slots, one set being in a different horizontal plane than that of the other, said hopper being also provided at its sides with two plates formed of sheet metal and each being provided with openings through which poultry may insert their heads, and each comprising a curved or arched body portion and also'an outer edge portion designed to rest against the bottom of the trough and an inner edge portion designed to engage the hopper and also the lugs thereon, said parts beingso arranged that when said plates are in position the resiliency of the sheet metal of which they are formed will cause the plates to yieldingly engage the sides of the hopper, for the purposes stated.

Des Moines, Iowa. September 19. 1921.

MILTON LIGGETT. 

